Assignment 1: Theories Of Crime And Victimization
Crime and Victimization
Jarvis Harrell
CRJ100 Introduction to Criminal Justice
Dr. Richard Foy
February 2, 2014
1. Summarize one (1) theory of victimization that Dr. Carla O’Donnell discussed within the related scenario. Support the chosen theory with one (1) real-world example.
According to Dr. Carla O’Donnell, one example of theories of victimization is social process theory. This is described as the social conditioning of a certain crime. It focuses on the aspects of criminality as one of the major factors of individual interaction in the community. She states that all individuals in a community have the potential of turning to crime in cases where destructive social relationships are upheld. The theory emphasizes that the socio-psychology …show more content…
interaction with various institutions is a renowned contributing factor to crime. It is evident that offenders turn to crime because of peer pressure and other legal involvements that tend to advocate for the criminal behaviors.
This emphasizes on the point that any individual can be a criminal.
Currently, there are diverse cases that describe of incidents where the youths have indulged in violence and crime and the effect it has on their families. A research conducted on the issues states that there is a connection of the childhood involvements that the individuals have and their behaviors. In most cases children exposed to domestic violence have been described as the most vulnerable to the situation and they portray poor social interactions and uncouth behaviors (Curran and Renzetti, 2001). It is evident that if individual’s criminal aspects are encouraged from their close relatives, they rarely make the right decisions and this usually results to crime. In this case, children are supposed to be taught on how to behave and the issues that are acceptable in the community since they learn most from what they see. The theory emphasizes that no individual is born with the attributes of a criminal, instead they are influenced to commit crime by the people they grow looking up to (Dressler, …show more content…
2002).
2. Discuss one (1) real-life scenario involving criminal activity, identifying the federal, state, and / or local agency (ies) with jurisdiction. Explain why the agency (ies) that took the case was the appropriate one for the particular circumstances.
Late last year, Claire Davis, a 17-year old student was shot and killed by Karl Pierson at Arapahoe High School in Colorado. Karl was said to have been on a revenge mission against a librarian who he did not find and decided to turn his anger towards his schoolmates (Arapahoe High School shooting victim dies - CNN.com). He fired randomly in the hallways with his pump action shot gun which he later used to kill himself. The state police were the first to arrive and were fully in charge of the investigations from the beginning. This case was rightfully handled by the state police since violent and gun crimes fall under their jurisdiction.
3. Describe a recent incidence of crime that occurred within your community. Suggest how implementing at least one (1) of the changes that Sgt. Evans had discussed and another change of your recommendation would have changed the circumstances of the crime that you selected.
Recently in my neighborhood, an elderly woman was ambushed by three young men and robbed of cash and personal belongings at knife point.
She had come from doing her grocery shopping at the local store which is open till late. She was attacked as she was walking to her car in the dimly lit car park which is in a secluded place away from other businesses. This is one of the incidents that have been reported to have occurred around the area and many individuals have turned out to avoid the local stores. However, the local store is usually opened till late hours and it is convenient for many shoppers since the surrounding stores usually close earlier. This has contributed to the place being an easy attack spot for the thugs who are usually heavily harmed. The region is secluded making it hard for shoppers to get help even after raising alarm. There are minimal occupants around the homes surrounding the local store and the street lights along the store have been broken. The local store car park is also dimly lit and this has made it easier for the thugs to target and attack the
shoppers. According to Sgt. Evans, he recommends that individuals should avoid going to the shopping center alone. This will minimize the chances of the shoppers being attacked by the thugs. It is important that individuals consider their safety and visit the stores early. The store management should take the initiative of fixing the broken parking lights to make the place safer for the shoppers. The local stores should deploy guards at the parking area to ensure that the safety of the shoppers and the store is on the lookout.
References
Arapahoe High School shooting victim dies - CNN.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/21/us/colorado-arapahoe-shooting-death/
Curran, D. J., & Renzetti, C. M. (2001). Theories of crime. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Dressler, J. (2002). Encyclopedia of crime & justice. New York: Macmillan Reference USA.
Jarvis Harrell
CRJ100 Introduction to Criminal Justice
Dr. Richard Foy
February 2, 2014
1. Summarize one (1) theory of victimization that Dr. Carla O’Donnell discussed within the related scenario. Support the chosen theory with one (1) real-world example.
According to Dr. Carla O’Donnell, one example of theories of victimization is social process theory. This is described as the social conditioning of a certain crime. It focuses on the aspects of criminality as one of the major factors of individual interaction in the community. She states that all individuals in a community have the potential of turning to crime in cases where destructive social relationships are upheld. The theory emphasizes that the socio-psychology …show more content…
interaction with various institutions is a renowned contributing factor to crime. It is evident that offenders turn to crime because of peer pressure and other legal involvements that tend to advocate for the criminal behaviors.
This emphasizes on the point that any individual can be a criminal.
Currently, there are diverse cases that describe of incidents where the youths have indulged in violence and crime and the effect it has on their families. A research conducted on the issues states that there is a connection of the childhood involvements that the individuals have and their behaviors. In most cases children exposed to domestic violence have been described as the most vulnerable to the situation and they portray poor social interactions and uncouth behaviors (Curran and Renzetti, 2001). It is evident that if individual’s criminal aspects are encouraged from their close relatives, they rarely make the right decisions and this usually results to crime. In this case, children are supposed to be taught on how to behave and the issues that are acceptable in the community since they learn most from what they see. The theory emphasizes that no individual is born with the attributes of a criminal, instead they are influenced to commit crime by the people they grow looking up to (Dressler, …show more content…
2002).
2. Discuss one (1) real-life scenario involving criminal activity, identifying the federal, state, and / or local agency (ies) with jurisdiction. Explain why the agency (ies) that took the case was the appropriate one for the particular circumstances.
Late last year, Claire Davis, a 17-year old student was shot and killed by Karl Pierson at Arapahoe High School in Colorado. Karl was said to have been on a revenge mission against a librarian who he did not find and decided to turn his anger towards his schoolmates (Arapahoe High School shooting victim dies - CNN.com). He fired randomly in the hallways with his pump action shot gun which he later used to kill himself. The state police were the first to arrive and were fully in charge of the investigations from the beginning. This case was rightfully handled by the state police since violent and gun crimes fall under their jurisdiction.
3. Describe a recent incidence of crime that occurred within your community. Suggest how implementing at least one (1) of the changes that Sgt. Evans had discussed and another change of your recommendation would have changed the circumstances of the crime that you selected.
Recently in my neighborhood, an elderly woman was ambushed by three young men and robbed of cash and personal belongings at knife point.
She had come from doing her grocery shopping at the local store which is open till late. She was attacked as she was walking to her car in the dimly lit car park which is in a secluded place away from other businesses. This is one of the incidents that have been reported to have occurred around the area and many individuals have turned out to avoid the local stores. However, the local store is usually opened till late hours and it is convenient for many shoppers since the surrounding stores usually close earlier. This has contributed to the place being an easy attack spot for the thugs who are usually heavily harmed. The region is secluded making it hard for shoppers to get help even after raising alarm. There are minimal occupants around the homes surrounding the local store and the street lights along the store have been broken. The local store car park is also dimly lit and this has made it easier for the thugs to target and attack the
shoppers. According to Sgt. Evans, he recommends that individuals should avoid going to the shopping center alone. This will minimize the chances of the shoppers being attacked by the thugs. It is important that individuals consider their safety and visit the stores early. The store management should take the initiative of fixing the broken parking lights to make the place safer for the shoppers. The local stores should deploy guards at the parking area to ensure that the safety of the shoppers and the store is on the lookout.
References
Arapahoe High School shooting victim dies - CNN.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/21/us/colorado-arapahoe-shooting-death/
Curran, D. J., & Renzetti, C. M. (2001). Theories of crime. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Dressler, J. (2002). Encyclopedia of crime & justice. New York: Macmillan Reference USA.